Air-Fryer Chipotle Chicken: Quick, Easy, And Delicious

If you're a fan of the famous Chipotle chicken, you'll love making it at home in an air fryer. It's easy to prepare, juicy, and tender. The key to this recipe is the marinade, which you can make with simple ingredients like red onion, garlic, adobo sauce, olive oil, and spices. The chicken is best when marinated for at least 6 hours or even overnight. Then, simply cook it in your air fryer for about 15-18 minutes, and you'll have delicious Chipotle chicken ready to be served!

Marinating the chicken

Preparing the Chicken:

Before you begin marinating, it's important to ensure that your chicken breasts are of even thickness. Place each chicken breast between two layers of wax paper or plastic wrap. Using a meat mallet or the bottom of a skillet, gently pound the thicker portions until they are level with the rest of the breast. This step ensures even cooking and prevents the chicken from drying out.

Creating the Marinade:

The marinade is what gives chipotle chicken its distinctive flavour. To make it, you'll need a combination of aromatic ingredients and spices. Here's a list of what you'll need:

• Red onion
• Garlic cloves
• Chipotle chilies in adobo sauce
• Olive oil
• Apple cider vinegar (white distilled vinegar can be substituted)
• Cumin
• Oregano
• Salt
• Black pepper

Combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until a smooth puree forms. You may need to scrape down the sides of the blender a few times to ensure everything is well combined.

Now it's time to combine the chicken and the marinade. Place your chicken breasts in a large resealable plastic bag or a food storage container. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring that each piece is thoroughly coated. Seal the bag or container and place it in the refrigerator. For best results, allow the chicken to marinate for at least 6 hours, or even overnight. The longer it sits, the more time the flavours have to permeate the meat.

Discarding the Used Marinade:

Once the marinating time is complete, remove the chicken from the bag or container and discard the used marinade. It's important to note that you should not reuse the marinade, as it has been in contact with raw chicken and may contain harmful bacteria. Always start with a fresh batch of marinade when preparing this dish.

Cooking the Chicken:

After marinating, the chicken is ready to be cooked in your air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (180°C). Place the marinated chicken pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer, being careful not to crowd the basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken in batches. Cook the chicken for 15-18 minutes, flipping the pieces halfway through the cooking process. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Remove the cooked chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for 3-5 minutes before cutting or serving. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring that your chipotle chicken is juicy and tender.

Air fryer temperature and cooking time

The air fryer temperature and cooking time will depend on the type and size of your air fryer, as well as the size of the chicken pieces. Therefore, it is crucial to use an instant-read digital thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked perfectly.

Most recipes recommend preheating your air fryer to 360°F (180°C) and cooking the chicken for 15-18 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through the cooking process. The chicken is done when the internal temperature in the thickest portion reaches 165°F.

However, some recipes suggest cooking at a higher temperature of 375°F for 10-12 minutes.

If you are cooking chicken breasts, it is important to ensure they are of even thickness. You can do this by placing the chicken between two layers of wax paper or plastic wrap and gently pounding with a meat mallet or the bottom of a skillet. This will ensure the chicken cooks evenly.

It is also worth noting that if you are cooking very small or thin chicken breasts, they may cook faster, so adjust your cooking time accordingly.

Always let the chicken rest for 3-5 minutes before cutting or serving to allow the juices to redistribute and ensure juicy, tender meat.

Chicken preparation

The first step in preparing the chicken is to ensure that the chicken breasts are of even thickness. This can be achieved by placing the chicken breasts between two layers of wax paper or plastic wrap and gently pounding them with a meat mallet or the bottom of a skillet. The goal is not to make the chicken breasts thin, but to create an even thickness so that they cook evenly.

Next, you will need to make the marinade. In a blender or food processor, combine the red onion, garlic, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Blend until the mixture is fully pureed. You can also add lime juice and zest to the marinade for extra flavour.

Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag or a food storage container. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring that all pieces are evenly coated. Place the container in the refrigerator and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 6 hours, or overnight for the best results.

Once the chicken has finished marinating, remove it from the marinade and discard the leftover marinade. If you are using an air fryer, preheat it to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the chicken into the air fryer basket in a single layer, you may need to cook the chicken in batches. Set the air fryer to cook at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-18 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to flip the chicken halfway through the cooking process.

If you are using an oven, preheat it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the chicken into a baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the air fryer or oven and let it rest for 3-5 minutes before cutting or serving.

Making the marinade

Once you have your ingredients, combine them in a blender or food processor and blend until they form a puree. If you don't have a blender or food processor, you can finely chop the ingredients and whisk them together in a large bowl.

After you have made the marinade, place your chicken in a resealable plastic bag or container. Then, pour the marinade over the chicken, making sure to coat all sides evenly. Place the container in the refrigerator and let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight. The longer you let the chicken marinate, the more time the flavours will have to absorb into the meat.

Serving suggestions

There are endless ways to serve air fryer chipotle chicken, but here are some ideas to get you started:

Burrito Bowl

Add your cooked chicken to a bowl with rice, beans (black beans or pinto beans), salsa (traditional salsa, black bean-corn salsa, or mango salsa), or fresh pico de gallo. You can also add cilantro-lime rice, sliced tomatoes, Mexican cauliflower rice, black beans, mango pico de gallo, and a dollop of non-fat Greek yogurt or sour cream. Even a sprinkle of cheese and some lime slices will enhance the flavours.

Salads

Add sliced chicken to a regular green salad, a taco salad, or a Mexican Chicken Bowl. You can also add iceberg lettuce, sliced tomatoes, some Mexican cauliflower rice, diced or sliced chipotle chicken, black beans, and mango pico de gallo.

Sandwiches and Wraps

Use the chicken in sandwiches, wraps, or quesadillas.

Scrambled Eggs

Add chopped chicken to scrambled eggs, an omelette, an air fryer frittata, or Instant Pot egg bites.

Street Tacos

Add sliced chicken to street tacos or quesadillas.

Charcuterie Board

Add sliced chicken to a skinny charcuterie board for a south-of-the-border flavour.

Rice and Beans

Serve the chicken with rice and beans for a more traditional Mexican dish.

Spicy Rice

Serve the chicken on top of some homemade spicy rice, pickled onions, and some fresh salsa.

Freezer Meals

Transform this recipe into a freezer meal by marinating and freezing the raw chicken in a resealable plastic bag or a freezer-safe container. When you're ready to cook, simply thaw the chicken in the refrigerator and follow the cooking instructions for air-fried or oven-baked chicken.

Storage and Reheating

Store leftover chipotle chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, use the air fryer, oven, or microwave, ensuring the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F before consuming.

Frequently asked questions